Even as it patted itself on the back for what it considered a peaceful elections Monday, the Philippine National Police shifted its focus on ensuring a smooth transition of power.
PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said that while its preparations for clean and peaceful polls paid off, its task is not yet over.
"The task at hand is not yet over, from here we have to perform the duty of ensuring the smooth and orderly transition of government power to a new administration whom the people have chosen to lead this great nation. And together as a nation, let us move on towards a better and brighter future," Verzosa said in a statement Monday night.
The statement was posted on the PNP website.
Verzosa lauded the PNP for what he called "probably the most peaceful and orderly" elections ever held in the country.
He claimed a 200-percent drop in poll-related violent incidents compared to elections in 2004 and 2007.
"Except for some isolated incidents of violence and disorder in some perennial election trouble spots particularly in the southern Philippines, the overall situation during the whole day electoral exercise had been relatively peaceful registering effectively an overall decrease of 200% in incidents and casualties as compared to the two preceding elections in 2004 and 2007," Verzosa said.
"Today we made history. The May 10, 2010 national and local elections will go down in our nation’s history as probably the most peaceful and orderly political exercise ever held in our land," he added.
Voting hours came to a close at 7 p.m. Monday while polling precincts transmitted election results to the automated counting system Monday night.
"Our efforts worked well in taking away instruments of violence and denying every inch of space to partisan armed groups, threat groups, and criminal elements that posed a threat to the peaceful and orderly conduct of today’s elections," Verzosa said.
Also, he congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other component agencies that make up the Joint Security Coordinating Centers (JSCC) from the national down to the local levels.
He also congratulated the Filipino people, including the citizens’ arm and volunteer organizations for the support and cooperation to all peace and order initiatives.
"With politics already behind us after this exercise, I trust that everyone will respect and support the duly elected leaders who have been bestowed the mandate of the people," he said. — LBG/RSJ
